Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-09
THE EARTHQUAKE AT NICE.
Described by an American who Was
There.
EIGHTEEN THOUSAND PEOPLE TRYING TO ESCAPE ON
ONE TRAIN.

rrom the N. 4. Herald.
Two gentleman direct from the great earthquake
at Nice arrived by the French steamer La Gas
cogne last evening. They were Col. c. j. Tone and
M. Burke, OF Rochester. The former, describing
the festivities OF the carnival told how the streets
were filled with carriages and pedestrians, pelting
one another with flowers. All wore masks and
costumes. The most beautiful ladies threw costly
flowers into the faces OF persons they had never
seen. An ordinary Chicago clerk travelling for his
health could pelt the face OF duchess with roses
and her husband would only smile For days the
city was given over TO gayety. Confetti-a sort OF
candy-followed the flowers In showers. II was a
romantic riot day and night until the last day OF
the carnival. Then came the balls seventy thou
sand people danced wildly all that night Tar into
the penitential morn OF Ash Wednesday
HOW THE EARTHQUAKE BEGAN.
Inc night was filled with revelry. Balls were
held all over the city, but there were 10000 people
at the one great ball OF the night 81 went TO that
ball, and It was very late when reached home"
Sa1o Col. Tone. 81 was quartered on the third
floor OF the Grand hotel Though 1t was nearly
daylight could not sleep, and so lay I'm bed read
ing book. Suddenly and without warning a roar
more terrible than a tornado came. A thousand
mines seemed exploding under the floor ana a
Thousand trains OF cars seemed rolling over the
II the world were being ground 10 pieces and the
city with it. The first shock threw me into the
middle OF the floor. which tipped up like the roof
OF a house. tried to walk, but was pitched head
long across the room. The bed rolled from side TO
side and went after ii. Was shaken as a strong
man shakes a boy. AS soon as l could master my
self managed by great effort 10 reach the door
leading into MIR. Burkes room, adjoining. Ii was
locked. 1 kicked and pounded, but in that
awful roar could only just hear his voice. /
shouted as loud as could and yelled that IL was an
earthQuake-that we must fly to the street. We
burst open the double DOORS and i'm some way,
don't know how, got down stairs while the great
wallis ten feet thick, were cracking with artillery
reports The scenes In the corridors and on the
floors below US were like IL riot In mad house
Beautiful women, with long hair streaming down
their backs, rushed wildly around, beseeching the
porters to save them. One woman, who had been
the belle OF many great ball, appeared I'm a
single garment with bird cage and two canarfes.
The birds were SO frightened that they hung backs
downward from their cage with their eyes closed.
The lady reached the street, where some one gave
her wrap for her shoulders; but she had no
skirt. Having experienced earthquakes in San
Francisco, thought 1 was familiar with them,
but at Nice the horror was beyond description. ON
the street the people lost their heads Fifty dol
lars We're offered for any kind OF vehicle. Hum
dredS OF ladies in their night garments fell their
knees before great rough porters more frightened
than themselves. Money could not hire them 70
down our own luggage and saved everything.
Twenty thousand people packed the public square.
DODGING TWENTY THOUSAND HOUSES.
The second shock was more terrible than the
first. To tell the truth, I could not remember
whether 1t was two seconds or two hours after the
first shock. But it was fearful CONFUSION. Then
the panic became general Think OF it-Seventy
thousand people trying TO dodge twenty thousand
buildings! expected every moment TO see the city
fall In ruins New York could not stand minute
under such shocks The great blocks OF public
buildings rose and fell like ships In storm. The
motion was unlike anything moved by natural
laws Gravitation seemed entirely suspended dur
ing the throes. My feet would be in the air and a
moment later l could see the tops OF four story
houses as they leaned over on the earth pillows
sweeping across the city.
Fortunately for US, MI. Burke and myself had
purchased tickets Tor Paris on the previous day.
AT the station We found 5000 people praying to
go on the next train. The cars, holding seventy
people, were literally packed with humanity, but
multitude who were outside could not get near
the train. As high as 1,000f. were offered for a
place on the train. The first earthquake shock
came at six O'Clock. AT nine O'Clock word was re-
ceived by telegraph that another shock from Rome
Or some other point would reach Nice in an hour.
This created fresh panic. Men In their excite
ment shOuldered half-dreSsed women, thinking
they were trunks. Women ran around trying to
save little trinkets, utterly bereft OF sense judy
ment, and imploring the guards 90 put them on
the cars. The morning train did not get OF until
noon. Then was happy: An earthquake changes
mans nature. did not care whether the town
sank. with everybody in IT. could only get away.
No more earthquakes boFasa a0oa night"